Title: Memory strives with Death
Fandom: White Collar/Highlander
Disclaimer: not my characters
Warnings: no HL characters appear; takes place early in WC
Pairings: none
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 210
Point of view: third
Prompt: White Collar; Neal; "May you find what you're looking for."
The buzz hits while he's waiting in line for his coffee. Peter's in his car, on the phone with Hughes about some crisis they'll deal with when they get to the office, and Neal hasn't carried a sword since he became Neal almost a decade and a half ago.
He almost panics, almost looks around and gives himself away. But Neal has been in the Game for a very long time and most immortals can't actually pinpoint a buzz. So he smiles at the barista, gives his and Peter's order, waits patiently while chatting with another customer about her adorable toddler, drops a five in the tip jar, and collects his two coffees, all without looking around like a fool.
He even smiles at the other immortal as he leaves in the middle of a crowd. The man looks middle-aged, though fit, of course. He's staring hard at everyone and can't even tell when Neal walks right past him. Young, then. Maybe a century, but probably not. He won't notice for a little while that Neal's buzz has faded, and he won't remember Neal.
Peter burns his mouth on the coffee and grumbles about it. Neal tries not to remember certain things and wonders how long that kid will last.
